DELHI- An Air India (AI) flight from Phuket International Airport (HKT) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) was forced to make an emergency landing following a bomb threat onboard AI379. No explosives were found after initial inspection.
Just hours later, another Air India flight, AI171, en route from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick Airport (LGW), crashed moments after takeoff, killing over 240 people in what is now the deadliest aviation disaster of the decade.
Photo: Clément AlloingAir India Bomb Threat
On June 13, Air India flight AI 379, operated by an Airbus A320 with 156 passengers, departed from Phuket International Airport (HKT) bound for New Delhi (DEL). Midway through the flight, the crew received a bomb threat note scrawled on a lavatory wall.
The aircraft circled the Andaman Sea as emergency protocols were activated. It safely returned to Phuket, where Thai authorities conducted a full inspection.
No explosives or suspicious items were discovered during the preliminary search. Thai airport officials later confirmed the absence of any bomb on board.
Air India has yet to comment on the motive or identify the suspect responsible for the note.
Photo: PM Narendra Modi X HandleDeadly Plane Crash
Yesterday, tragedy struck when Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating flight AI171, took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) at midday en route to London Gatwick (LGW). Thirty seconds after departure, the aircraft crashed into a nearby medical college hostel.
The crash claimed over 240 lives, including passengers, crew, and individuals on the ground. The aircraft was carrying 242 individuals: 217 adults, 11 children, 2 infants, and 12 crew. Nationalities included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. It was the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since its commercial debut in 2011.
Only one survivor has been identified—Ramesh Viswashkumar, seated in 11A by an emergency exit. He recounted hearing a loud noise before the impact.
Rescue teams pulled him from the wreckage amid a scene of chaos and destruction. His brother, who was also on the flight, remains missing.
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Photo: PM Narendra Modi X HandleInvestigation, International Support, and Global Reactions
CCTV footage and Flightradar24 data indicate the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude. Experts, including U.S. aerospace safety consultant Anthony Brickhouse, pointed to unusual landing gear deployment during ascent, hinting at potential mechanical malfunction.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a formal investigation. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced a multi-agency high-level probe.
Boeing and GE Aerospace have dispatched technical teams to assist, and the U.S. FAA is involved in data analysis. The U.K. Foreign Office confirmed support for British nationals affected.
The Indian Prime Minister called the incident “heartbreaking,” while global leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump, expressed condolences. King Charles is being kept informed of the situation.
The crash severely dented Boeing’s image, with its stock dropping 5%. The company’s CEO and executives canceled appearances at the upcoming Paris Air Show amid renewed scrutiny.
Photo: By lasta29 – Air India, B787-8 Dreamliner, VT-ANR, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40687689Aircraft Details and Historical Context
The crashed Boeing 787-8 first entered service with Air India in January 2014. This model had no prior fatal incidents, making the crash particularly alarming for aviation regulators.
Pieces of the aircraft’s fuselage and tail were found embedded in the building it struck. Affected families are being asked to provide DNA samples for identification purposes.
The hostel impacted belonged to a medical college where students were present for lunch. Some survivors on the ground suffered injuries while escaping, including a student who leaped from the second floor.
Authorities confirmed the death of Gujarat’s former Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, among the casualties. Officials continue to assess how many fatalities occurred in the aircraft versus on the ground.
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The post Air India Faces Bomb Threat, Deadly Crash Within 24 Hours appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
